Without mentioning Pakistan, China on Tuesday urged to maintain strategic balance in South Asian region as India successfully test fired the nuclear capable Agni-V ballistic missile.

"China always maintains that preserving the strategic balance and stability in South Asia is conducive to peace and prosperity of regional countries and beyond," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters.

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Hua hoped that India had complied with the United Nation (UN) rules while testing the latest Agni missile on Monday.

"The UN Security Council has explicit regulations on whether India can develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons," she said.

The foreign ministry spokesperson surprisingly took exception to highly proactive reports in Indian media that the Agni-V missile can strike as far as northern China. She chose to downplay the reports by suggesting that Beijing seeks to become "rivals for competition but partners for cooperation."

Hua categorically reminded New Delhi that Beijing is willing to work alongside all the South Asian countries, including India, "to maintain the long-lasting peace, stability and prosperity of the region."

But she also added that China hopes that relevant media will stop resorting to sensationalized reporting and do more constructive things to contribute to the mutual trust between China and India.

Agni-V is an Intercontinental Nuclear Capable Missile  

Agni-V is a part of the illustrious Agni missile family that includes the Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni-III, and Agni-IV missiles. But Agni-V stands out among all because of its staggering strike range that can travel anywhere between 5,000 and 5,500 kilometers.  

Indian defense analysts claimed that the Agni-V has been designed to keep China in mind and counter its rapid growth of nuclear capable missiles. But they argued that China is still far ahead of India in missile technology.

After Agni-V's induction in the Indian military, India will join the exclusive club of countries with ICBMs, which represent missile that can travel or cover between 5,000 and 5,500 kilometers.    

Tagschina, Agni-V Missile, India Agni Miisiles, India and China